1.
Pride and Prejudice: Title
“Pride and Prejudice” was first written in 1797 under the title “First
Impressions”. It was later revised and published under the title “Pride
and Prejudice” in 1813.
First impressions do play an important role in the novel.
Elizabeth is misled in her judgment of both Darcy and Wickham. Her attitude
towards both the characters is only a result of the First Impressions. But if
we study the novel deeply, we find that “Pride and Prejudice” is
an apt title. The first impressions only last for the first few chapters of the
novel while pride and prejudice permeate the soul of the novel. The novel is
about the pride of Darcy and the prejudice of Elizabeth caused by their mutual
misunderstanding.
Earlier in the novel, Mary describes Pride
as “…a common failing. Human nature is particularly prone to it”.
Mr. Darcy stands as the most obviously proud character. Wickham tells Elizabeth
that he has a ‘filial pride’ and we tend to agree with Mrs.
Bennett’s complaint that “He walked here and he walked there, fancying
himself so very great”.
His haughty manners at the ball gave people a
very bad impression of his personality, especially Elizabeth, whom he
considered as “tolerable; but not handsome enough to tempt
(him)”. Lady Catherine, Miss Bingley and even Elizabeth Bennett
constitute the other proud characters. While Lady Catherine’s patronizing
behavior and Miss Bingley’s rudeness are due to their social class, Elizabeth
can be deemed proud on the account that she has high respect for herself and
this is best displayed when Elizabeth refers to Darcy: “And I could easily
forgive his pride, if he had not mortified mine.” Being rejected by
him at the ball, her prejudice mounts up and from the start; she willfully
misinterprets all his utterances and actions.
Darcy’s pride stemming from the superiority of intellect,
his noble ancestry and his enormous riches prejudices him strongly against
Elizabeth’s family and her low connections. Although “he had never been
bewitched by any woman as he was by her”, Darcy feels beneath his dignity
to admit to his love for her. Even when he can repress his feelings no longer
and does propose to Elizabeth, “he was not more eloquent on the subject
of the tenderness than on pride”. He is considerably humbled
when he is rejected without ceremony, and Elizabeth’s words “had you
behaved in a more gentlemanlike manner” and her criticism of his
self-conceit affect him deeply.
Elizabeth’s refusal initiates a process of introspection
and self analysis in Darcy. Consequently, he emerges as a man who has
gone through a considerable transition. This is revealed by his long explanatory
speech to Elizabeth towards the end of the novel. The greatest proof of this
transition is in his remaining firm in his choice of Elizabeth even after
Lydia-Wickham elopement which draws from Elizabeth the acknowledgement- “indeed
he has no improper pride. He is perfectly amiable.”
In Elizabeth, the
intelligent and self-assured young woman too we see the interesting compound of
Pride and Prejudice. Her initial prejudice against Darcy arises from injured
pride. At the Natherfield ball she overhears Darcy calling her, “tolerable;
but not handsome enough to tempt(him)”. From that evening Elizabeth is left
with no cordial feeling towards Darcy. In addition, Elizabeth is prejudiced in
favour of Wickham, charmed by her fine countenance, pleasing addresses and his
flattering attentions.
Elizabeth's judgments about
other characters' dispositions are accurate but only half of the time.
While she is correct about Mr. Collins and how absurdly self-serving and
sycophantic he is and about Lady Catherine de Bourgh and how proud and snobbish
she is, her first impressions of Wickham and Darcy steer her
incorrectly. When Charlotte tries to show Elizabeth the agreeable
side of Mr. Darcy, Elizabeth cries out in a disdainful manner: “To find
a man agreeable whom one is determined to hate! Do not wish me such an evil”. It
is only when she reads Darcy’s letter that her eyes are opened to the true
characters of both Darcy and Wickham.
In fact Darcy’s letter
introduces in Elizabeth the same self-criticism that Darcy too
undergoes. Thus Elizabeth realizes her folly in trusting her first
impressions and states, "how despicably have I acted. I, who have
prided myself on my discernment! - I, who have valued myself on my
abilities."
In sum, the title, “Pride
and Prejudice” very aptly points to the theme of the novel. The two
protagonists have been tangling with pride and prejudice throughout the novel.
They also struggled to put down their pride and get rid of their prejudice.
However, to say that Darcy is proud and Elizabeth is prejudiced is to tell but
half of the story. The fact is that both Darcy and Elizabeth are proud and
prejudiced. The novel makes clear the fact the Darcy’s pride leads to prejudice
and Elizabeth’s prejudice stems from a pride in her own perceptions.
In a nut-shell, the
appropriateness of the title, Pride and Prejudice is indeed unquestionable and
it bears immense significance to the plot, thematic concerns and the
characterization in the novel.
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